Switching mechanism



May 16, 1933.- o. JENSEN SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY May. 16, 1933. o. JENSEN 1,909,540

SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

INVENTOR (Qa; 8Y3

-ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BREAKERCOHPANY, JERSEY OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN A CORPORATION 01' NEWSWITCHING MECHANISM Application filed November 10, 1931. Serial No.574,064.

My invention relates to switching mechanisms, and particularly toauxiliary switch elements mechanically controlled by movement of adevice having a plurality of positions, such as a switch or circuitbreaker.

In accordance with my invention, auxiliary switch elements, as palletswitches, are actuated by the operating mechanism of a device, forexample, an electromagnetically controlled circuit breaker, and theswitches coact to control an auxiliary circuit, for example, an alarm orsignal circuit, so that when the position of the device is changed, aswhen the circuit breaker is automatically tripped or opened, underabnormal conditions, an alarm or signal will be given, but whichswitches will not cause the alarm or signal to be given when theposition of the device is changed under normal conditions, as when thecircuit breaker is opened by hand or by a remote control circuit; moreparticularly, two pallet switches are connected in circuit with eachother to control an auxiliar circuit, the first pallet switch isactuated y the operating mechanism of a circuit breaker, and the secondpallet switch is biased to a given circuit controlling position, but iscaused to move to another circuit controlling position by movement ofthe first pallet switch during the closing movement of the circuitbreaker and is held in the latter position by latching mechanism until acircuit breaker tripping device is operated by hand or by a remotecontrol circuit.

Specifically, the pallet switches are rotatably mounted adjacent eachother, and the second pallet switch is resiliently biased, as by aspring, to a first circuit controlling position, but is forced into asecond circuit controlling position by rotation of the first palletswitch in a given direction during the closing movement of the circuitbreaker; when the circuit breaker is opened by an overload tripping coilthe first switch is rotated in the opposite direction to another circuitcontrolling position, and the second switch is held in its secondposition by a latch connected to hand or remote control trippingmechanism, so that the condition of an auxiliary circuit is changedthereby and an alarm given, but if the tripping mechanism and latch areactuated by hand or by a remote control circuit, the second switch isreleased and returns to its first position under the influence of itsbiasing spring, thus preventing a change in the condition of theauxiliary circuit and no alarm is given.

In accordance with one modification, the pallet switches areelectrically connected in series to control a normall open auxiliarycircuit; in another modi cation they are connected in parallel tocontrol a normally closed auxiliary circuit.

The invention resides in the features of construction, combination andarrangement hereinafter disclosed and claimed.

' For an understanding of the invention, and for illustration of some ofthe forms it may take, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a circuit breaker and an auxiliaryswitch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary switch with itscover removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show details of one of the rotatable contact elements ofthe auxiliary switch.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, artly in section, taken along the line 66 0 Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show details of the shaft parts of the rotatablecontact elements.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 illustrate relative positions of the rotatablecontact elements under difli'erent conditions.

Figs. 14 and 15 show two ways in which the auxiliary switch is connectedin circuit relation.

Among various uses for auxiliary or pallet type of switches which areactuated in accordance with the position of a switching mechanism orcircuit breaker, is to control auxiliary circuits for alarm or signalpurposes so that when the main switch or circuit breaker isautomatically tripped or opened under abnormal conditions, an alarm orsignal will be given, but which will give no indication or alarm whenthe switch or circuit breaker is opened at will, either manually or by atripping mechanism for remote control pu In the embodiment illustrated,the operation of the auxiliary switch is as follows:

The switch contains two movable contacts, preferably rotatable,electrically connected in series by an external connection. The

first of these contacts is mechanically connected with and operated bythe circuit breaker mechanism so that it is opened when the circuitbreaker is closed, and closed when the circuit breaker is open. Thesecond contact is biased, as by a spring, toward its open position, butis forced into its closed position by the shaft of the first contactelement during the closing movement of the circuit breaker. Therefore,when the breaker is closed, the first contact is open and the secondcontact is closed and held in that position by the shaft of the firstcontact, and also by a latch which may be released either by hand or bya tri ping coil for remote control purposes. In t is position of theswitches, the auxiliary circuit is opened.

When the circuit breaker is tri ped under abnormal conditions, however,as y an overload relay, the first contact moves to closed position, itsshaft releasing its control of the second contact, which, however, isheld in closed position by the latch. With both contacts closed, theauxiliary circuit is completed, and the alarm or si nal continues untilthe circuit breaker is rec osed, or the latch on the second contact isreleased either by hand or by energizing the remote control trippingcoil.

When the circuit is tripped by hand, or through its control circuit, thetri ping action releases the latch and the secon contact is rotated byits spring with the first contact as the circuit breaker o s. Thus,before the first contact is cl the second contact is opened, s that theauxiliary circuit is not completed and no alarm or signal is given.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown apanel 1 on which is mounted a circuit breaker 2 and an auxiliary orpallet switch 3. The circuit breaker has a latch 4 and a trippin lever5, and an overload solenoid 6 is provi ed to unlatch the breaker underabnormal conditions by its armature 7 striking the lugl 8' on the triplink 8. This link is supporte by a stud secured to the lever 9, the studoperatin in a slot at the bottom of the trip link 8 so t at the triplink may be raised independentl of lever 9, but if lever 9 is raised,the trip 8 will be raised thereby.

A tripping coil 10 is provided for remote control of the circuitbreaker, and when energized will unlatch the breaker by its armature 11striking the pin 12, which in turn strikes the lever 9 and thus actuateslink 8 to unlatch the circuit breaker. A link 13 -is pinned at its upperend to the lever 9, and at its lower end to the latch and hand tri lever14 of the auxiliar switch 3, which ever is lifted with the lin or, ifthe lever is lifted the link 13 will likewise be lifted. The operatingarm 15 is connected to the auxiliary switch 3, and is also connected bya link 16 to the operating arm of the circuit breaker 2.

The opening and closing action of the circuit breaker and the movementof its operating arm causes the operating arm 15 of the auxiliary switch3 to travel through an angle of approximately 90. This arm, toget er witthe latch ever 14, controls the ition of the two switch contact elementsin the switch 3. If the lever 14 remains in its lower or latchedposition durin the opening movement of the circuit brea er, then thealarm circuit is closed. If, on the other hand, the lever 14 is liftedto trip the circuit breaker, the alarm circuit remains open and nosignal is given.

Fi 2, 3, 6 and 7, are various views of the auxiliary switch 3 and itsenclosing housing. F i 2 is a front elevational view of the switch, withits front cover removed, and shows a mounting base 17 of moldedinsulating material supporting two pairs of oppositely disposed fixedcontacts 18, 18 and 18', 18'. Cooperating with the fixed contacts aretworotatably mounted contact elements, comprising metal blades 19 and 19'respectively embedded in cylindrical bodies 20 and 20' of moldedinsulating material. When the metal blade of either contact element isin the position of blade 19', as shown in Fig. 2, a circuit is closedbetween the fixed contacts 18', 18', and when in the position of theblade 19, the fixed contacts 18, 18 rest inst the insulating surface of20, and the circuit between them is opened. The position of the contact19 is controlled by the operating arm 15, and the position of thecontact 19 is controlled by the contact 19, subject to the position ofthe lever 14 (extending through the housing 33), as hereinafterdescribed. A barrier of insulation separates the contact elements fromeach other to prevent flashover between them.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and shows the contactarrangement more clearly. The molded base 17 has threaded metal terminalinserts 26 supporting contact brackets 27. These brackets each have twolugs pierced to receive tilts of the contact piece 18', which is forcedinto engagement with the rotatable contact 19' by a spring 28. Terminals29 are threaded into the inserts 26 for connection to the auxiliarycircuit controlled by the switch. The arran ement of the contact andterminal assem ly of rotatable contact 19 and its fixed contacts 18 isthe same as'that of contact 19. A cover 30, preferably made of moldedinsulating material, is held in position by screws 31 threaded into theinsulating base 17 at the points 31, shown in Fig. 2. The cover also hasthe barrier 32 of insulation which,

when the cover is in position, cooperates with barrier to isolate theadjacent switch elements.

A view of one of the rotatable switch elements is shown by Fig. 4, andthe contour of the metal contact blade 19. removed from its body 20, isshown by Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is asectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 6, to show theconstruction of the latching and operating mechanism of the rotatablecontact element 19'.

A housing 33 is separately secured to the v panel 1, and enclosed thelatch lever 14,

whichis pivotally mounted by means of a 4 pin 34 secured to the housing33. The latch lever 14 is biased in a counterclockwise direction, Fig.7, by the spring 35. and is notched out at 36 to receive the latch plate37 which is'secured to the return crank 24 mounted on the end of shaft21, and which rotates with the contact element 19. A spring 38 isattached to a crank stud 39 of the crank 24, and tends to rotate theshaft in a clockwise direction. As shown in Fig. 7, this tendency isresisted by the notch 36 in the lever 14, the notch holding the latchplate 37 in position. The spring 35 maintains these surfaces inengagement, but a slight clockwise movement of lever 14 will release thelatch.

The details of the shaft parts are shown in Figs. 8. 9 and 10. The outerend of the shaft 22 is square to receive the operating arm 15, and theouter end of shaft 21 is square to receive the crank member 24. Anintermediate portion of each crank is round, as shown, for turning inhearings in the base 17, not shown. A section of each of the shafts issquare, as at 21 and 22', to support and drive the rotatable contacts 19and Fig. 4 shows the opening in the molded body 20 which fits over thesquare portion 22' of the shaft 22, the metal blade 19 being insulatedfrom the shaft by reason of its contour and the insulating material ofthe body 20. The inner end of each shaft is drilled to receive the pivotpin 40 which maintains the shafts in alignment with each other. Lugs 23and 23' are formed on the inner ends of the shafts, and overlap eachother when the shafts are in their operating position, and are sodesigned with radial surfaces that a relative angular motionwofapproximately 90 is permitted between them, so that although the lug 23'may engage lug 23 to cause shaft 21 to be rotated against the tension ofthe biasing spring 38, the shaft 22 may be rotated in the reversedirection through an angle of 90 by movement of the circuit breaker,while the shaft 21 remains in its former position are omitted to bettershow the position of contacts 18'.. In this position, the closing motionof the circuit breaker has rotated the arm 15 and the lug 23 on itsshaft counterclockwise, the lug.23 forcing lug 23' ahead of it,tensioning the spring 38, not shown, and finally latching 37 in thenotch 36. If the circuit breaker is automatically tripped due toabnormal conditions, the arm 15 is rotated clockwise to the positionshown in Fig. 12, and in this position both contacts 19 and 19' areengaged with their complementary fixed contacts and close the auxiliarycircuit, so that an alarm or other signal is given.

If, in the position of Fig. 12, the circuit breaker is tripped by hand,or by the tripping coil 10, then the latching lever 14 is raised, thusdisengaging latch plate 37 from the notch 36, and the spring 38 willcause the contact 19-to be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 13,thus opening the auxiliary circuit. If, in the position of Fig. 11, thecir-' cuit breaker had been tripped by hand, or by the remote controltripping coil 10, then the latch plate 37 and latch lever 14 would havebeen released at the instant of unlatching thecircuit breaker, and thetwo contacts 19 and 19' would have rotated clockwise together, thecontact 19' opening the circuit before the contact 19 would have closedthe same.

Fig. 14 shows the manner of connecting the auxiliary switch abovedescribed in circuit relation with an alarnrbell A, and so arranged thatthe bell will ring when the circuit breaker is opened under abnormalconditions, but will not ring when the breaker is opened by hand or by aremote control circuit.

Fig. 15 shows an auxiliary arrangement of the closed circuit type, thatis, a relay R is energized when the circuit breaker is closed, and thusmaintains an alarm circuit normally open; when the circuit breaker isopened under abnormal conditions, the relay R is deenergized and itsarmature is pulled back by the action of a spring or gravity to close anauxiliary or alarm circuit. When the auxiliary switch is to be used withan auxiliary circuit of the closed circuit type, then the rotatablecontact elements 19 and 19' must be placed on their shafts at an anglewhich is 90 to that in the modification disclosed in the drawings, sothat the contact will close when the circuit breaker is closed and willen when the circuit breaker is opened; the ot er contact being openedwhen the circuit breaker is closed, and closed by action of its biasingspring when the latch mechanism is released. In this modification, thecontact surface of the rotatable contacts should preferably subtend asector sufiiciently large that there will be an overlap between therespective contact surfaces of the adjacent elements in order to preventopenin of the relay circuit when the circuit brea er is tripped by handor by its remote control circuit.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a circuit breaker having means for automaticallyopening the breaker when abnormal conditions obtain and means foropening the breaker at will, a pallet switch mechanically actuated bythe circuit breaker operating mechanism for controlling an auxiliarycircuit, said pallet switch comprising a pluralit of movable contactsand complementary xed contacts, and means for causing each of themovable contacts to move to a predetermined one of two circuitcontrolling positions when the circuit breaker is opened, dependent uponwhich of said opening means is operated.

2. In combination with a circuit breaker having means for automaticallyopening the breaker when abnormal conditions obtain and means foropening the breaker at will, a pallet switch mechanically actuated bythe circuit breaker operating mechanism for controlling an auxiliarycircuit, said pallet switch having a plurality of rotatable contacts andcomplementary fixed contacts, and means for causing each of saidrotatable contacts to rotate to a predetermined one of two circuitcontrolling positions when the circuit breaker is opened, dependent uponwhich of said opening means is operated.

3. In combination with a circuit breaker having means for automaticallyopening the breaker when abnormal conditions obtain and means foropening the breaker at will, a pallet switch mechanically actuated bythe circuit breaker operating mechanism for controlling an auxiliarycircuit, said pallet switch having a plurality of rotatable contacts andcomplementary fixed contacts, and means for causing one of the rotatablecontacts to rotate to closed position and another of said contacts torotate to open position when a predetermined one of said opening meansis operated.

4 In combination with a circuit breaker having a first means forautomatically tripping the breaker when abnormal conditions obtain and asecond means for tripping the breaker at will, a pallet switchmechanically actuated by the circuit breaker operating mechanism forcontrolling an auxiliary circuit, said pallet switch comprisin tworotatable contact elements with comp ementary fixed contacts, and meansfor causing one of the contact elements to rotate to closed position andthe other contact elementto rotate to the open position when the circuitbreaker is opened by said second tripping of the contact elements torotate to open position and the other contact element to rotate toclosed position during closing movement of the circuit breaker.

6. In combination with a circuit breaker having a first means forautomatically tripping the breaker when abnormal conditions obtain and asecond means for tripping the breaker at will, a pallet switchmechanically actuated by the circuit breaker operating mechanism forcontrolling an auxiliary circuit, said pallet switch comprising tworotatable contact elements with complementary fixed contacts, means forcausing one of the contact elements to rotate to open position and theother contact element to rotate .to closed position during closingmovement of the circuit breaker, and means for causing said othercontact element to remain in closed position when the circuit breaker isopened y said first tripping means.

7. In combination with a circuit breaker having electromagnetic andmanually operable control means, a pallet switch having two rotatablecontact elements for controlling an auxiliary circuit, means foractuating one of said rotatable elements upon movement of the circuitbreaker, and means for controlling the position of the other of saidrotatable elements by the joint action of said control means andmovement of the circuit breaker.

8. In combination with an electromagnetically controlled circuitbreaker, a pallet switch mechanically actuated by the circuit breakeroperating mechanism for cont-rolling an auxiliary circuit, said palletswitch having two movable contact elements with complementary fixedcontacts connected to said auxiliary circuit, means for mechanicallyconnecting one of the movable elements to the circuit breaker operatingmechanism, said element being in closed position when the circuitbreaker is open, means for biasing the second contact element towardsits open position, and means actuated by closing movement of the circuitbreaker for forcing the last-named element into closed position.

9. In combination with an electromagnetically controlled circuitbreaker, a pallet switch mechanically actuated by the clrcuit nectingone of the movable elements to the contact element forces the secondcontact ele-.

circuit breaker operating mechanism, said element-being in open positionwhen the circuit breaker is closed, means for continuous ly biasing thesecond contact element towards its open position, and means whereby thefirst ment into closed position during closing movement of the circuitbreaker.

10. In combination with an electromagnetically controlled circuitbreaker, a pallet switch mechanically actuated by the circuit breakeroperating mechanism for controlling an auxiliary circuit, said palletswitch having two movable contact elements with complementary fixedcontacts connected to said auxiliar circuit, means for mechanicallyconnectlng one of the movable elementsto the circuit breaker operatingmechanism, so that it is closed when the circuit breaker is opened, andopened when the circuit breaker is closed, means for biasing the secondcontact element towards its open position, means carried by the firstcontact element for forcing the second contact element into closedposition during closing movement of the circuit breaker, and latchingmeans for holding the second contact element in closed position.

11. In combination with an electromagnetically controlled circuitbreaker, a pallet switch mechanically actuated by the circuit breakeroperating mechanism for controlling an auxiliary circuit, said palletswitch having two movable contact elements with complementary fixedcontacts connected to said auxiliary circuit, one of the movableelements being mechanically connected to the circuit breaker operatingmechanism, and opened when the circuit breaker is closed and closed whenthe circuit breaker is opened, means for biasing the second contactelement to wards its open position, means whereby the first contactelement forces the second contact element into closed position duringclosing movement of the circuit breaker, latching means for holding thesecond contact element in closed osition, and means for releasing saidlatcliing means when the circuit breaker is opened under normaloperating conditions.

12. In combination with a circuit breaker, a two pole double breakrotatable switch mechanically controlled by the operating mechanism ofthe circuit breaker, means for causing said circuit breaker to be openedautomatically under abnormal circuit conditions, and means in saidswitch to revent circuit change when the circuit brea er is opened atwill,

but to change from one circuit controlling position to another when thecircuit breaker is opened under abnormal conditions.

13. In combination with a circuit breaker having a first tripping meansfor opening the breaker in response to abnormal circuit conditions and asecond tripping means for opening the breaker at will, a switch havingcontact structure mechanically connected to the breaker mechanism andcontrolling an auxiliary circuit upon opening of the breaker by saidfirst means, second contact structure normally held in one position andreleased upon opening of the breaker by. said second tripping means topreclude control of the auxiliary circuit b said first contactstructure, and means or resetting said second contact structureconcurrently with reclosing of the breaker.

14. The combination with a circuit breaker, a pallet switch forcontrolling an auxiliar circuit having a first contact structure an asecond contact structure, a member for tripping said circuit breaker,means for actuating said member-and said first contact structure, meansresponsive to abnormal circuit conditions for actuating said member andsaid second contact structure, and means for reclosing the breaker andconcurrently resetting said switch.

15. The combination with a circuit breaker, of a plurality of trippingmeans for operating said breaker, a switch for controlling an auxiliarycircuit having a first contact structure movable to one position uponopening of the breaker and to another position upon closing of thebreaker, and a second contact structure normally held in one positionindependently of opening or closing of the breaker and if displacedtherefrom returned thereto upon closing of the breaker, and means foreffecting release of said contact structure upon opening of thebreakerby one of said tripping means.

16. The combination with a circuit breaker, of a plurality of trippingmeans, two switches for jointly controlling an auxiliary circuit, one ofwhich is in open circuit position and the other of which is in closedcircuit position when the breaker is closed, means for actuating oneonly of said switches upon opening of the breaker by one of saidtripping means, and means for actuating both of said switches to closedand open position respectively upon opening of the breaker by another ofsaid tripping means.

OTTO JENSEN.

